Two Are Charged In Robbery Attempt

NEW BRITAIN — Their get-away car got away without them, police said, but two suspects in a failed robbery attempt were captured and were arraigned in Superior Court Thursday.

Eugene Sykes, 19, and his brother DeShawn Rivera, 18, both of 29 South High St., were arrested Wednesday and charged with trying to rob a Chinese food deliveryman.

Police said the men and at least two other accomplices called a local restaurant and placed an order for food. They told the driver to deliver the food to an address on Rocky Hill Avenue.

The deliveryman arrived at the home, and a resident told him that they had not placed the order.

The deliveryman became suspicious and got back into his car. He locked the door and was attempting to call the restaurant when three men surrounded his vehicle, police said.

Sykes, who was holding a gun, attempted to pull the driver's door open, police said. Another man was standing on the passenger side, and another was standing to the rear of the car, the deliveryman told police.

When none of the doors opened, Sykes attempted to break the car window with the butt of the gun, police said.

The deliveryman began to furiously blow the horn of the car.

Not only did the deliveryman scare off his would-be attackers, he scared off their get-away driver, who fled the area without his accomplices, the deliveryman told police.

The deliveryman then called his wife, who called the police.

The officers arrived and found Sykes walking in the area of Rocky Hill Avenue and Kelsey Street.

The driver identified Sykes as one of the assailants.

A short time later, police found Rivera walking in the area of Columbus Boulevard.

The driver could not positively identify Rivera as one of his would-be robbers, but Rivera returned to the police station for questioning. Sykes later told police that Rivera had been with him.

Police are still looking for the third person, who had been standing behind the car, and for the get-away driver.

Sykes and Rivera are charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, conspiracy and criminal attempt to commit robbery.

Bail for each man was set at $500,000. They are schedule to return to court on Feb. 25.

New Britain police are working with investigators in Newington to determine whether this group was responsible for the recent robbery of a Chinese food deliveryman there.

In that robbery, three men surrounded the deliveryman. One of the men had a gun and the three fled in a car.